Council votes to buy Christchurch Netball Centre for use as base for community recreation, sports, and multicultural activities
Christchurch City Council will try to acquire the Christchurch Netball Centre in South Hagley Park as a new base for community recreation, sports, and multicultural activities.
“The position and size of the Christchurch Netball Centre means it is ideally suited to become a community recreation, sports and multicultural centre that people of all backgrounds and cultures can use,’’ noted Deputy Mayor Councillor Andrew Turner.
“We want it to become a place where everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, culture or religion, feels welcome and included. Having such a centre in the heart of Hagley Park will send a strong message that Christchurch embraces diversity and is an inclusive, multicultural city where all people belong,’’ added Turner.
The Christchurch Netball Centre is owned by Christchurch Netball, but the sports body is looking to sell the building because it is joining forces with Mainland Football to build a new multi-court indoor sports centre at Ngā Puna Wai.
“Christchurch Netball Centre is big enough to accommodate a wide range of community recreation and sport activities, as well as multicultural activities. It also means we can have a base for multicultural activities in the heart of our city,’’ Turner said.
Meanwhile, City Councillor Jimmy Chen noted in a Facebook post later, “During the debate, I pointed out that as detailed in the Christchurch Multicultural Strategy, which was launched 2017, the City Council has a duty to give every person living in the Garden City a sense of belonging, and also give every community and individuals equal access to Council’s services, resources, as well as participation in the decision-making process. So I believe Council should bear the responsibility to purchase this facility to meet people’s needs, and show that Christchurch embraces diversity and is truly an inclusive, multicultural city.”
Surinder Tandon, President of Christchurch Multicultural Council (CMC) also welcomed the news on social media saying, “We are very pleased to know that the Christchurch City Council (CCC) has agreed to acquire Christchurch Netball Centre as a new place for community recreation, sports, and multicultural activities. We look forward to working with CCC to fulfill the role and functions of previously identified Multicultural Hub, a project initiated by Hagley College and supported by several groups and agencies including CCC and CMC.”
- TIN Bureau